Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-05-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From onr rognlnr correspondent.

now IL tne headquarters VI the
National Drill and the busiest man
is tbs managing secretary, Mr.. De
Leon. He sits at his desk all day,
and on the glass partition which
shields him from intrusion a sign is
posted up that Mr.. DeLeon ID en-
gagged. He is always busily en-
gagged, and the sign is never taken
down.
His office has quite a military air
Pictures OF camp scenes, samples of
camp cots, Autographs representing
tented field, with marching troops
and the Washington Monument
looming up above all, with other
shadows of the coming event lie
around. Clerks are busy at work at
tables and in one corner the Com
mittee of Public Comfort has its
headquarters. Here a register is
kept of rooms and beds available,
and other information that might be
of use to persons visiting the city
during drill week. The committee
takes no note of the large hotels, it
seeks to provide for those who can
not get into the hotels, or who de-
sire to live at less daily expense
than is usual at hotels. AT the last
inauguration this committee did ex-
cellent work in hunting places
where accommodation could be
afforded strangers, and then invit-
ing correspondence with those who
wanted rooms and board, and it has
undertaken the same work for the
National Drill.
On the White Lot preparations
are going on for the drill and the
large camp ground is being enclosed.
At the foot of the Washington Mon
ument the troops Of the North and
South will meet in fraternal spirit
to vie for the honors and prizes pro-
vided by the liberality of the pro-
iectors of the undertaking. When
the project of holding a National
Drill here in May was first preached
last fall, it was taken up at once by
number of energetic cluzens who
by their personal influence and la
bors, and their liberal subscriptions
in money, at once assured the sue
cess Of the whole affair. Committees
we're Immediately organized, and
steps taken to assemble the flower
of the American National Guard in
Camp George Washington"
The purposes of the drill were
set forth in memorial to Congress.
1t said, "within the past ten years
Interstate competitive drills of the
volunteer soldiers of the United
States have been held at different
points in this country, always with
advantage to the drill, discipline
and morale of the militia, and with
increasing interest and attention OF
the citizenship Of the several states.
The idea has frequently been can
vassed, and the feeling over the
Union mas grown, that national
competitive drill and encampment
at the National Capital would not
; only collect a larger body Of repre-
{ sentative soldiers, but would be of
J more military Importance and ad-
vantage from the national character
the event would necessarily attain
amid national surroundings" etc.
, As to the rules of the camp, all
commands, unless their entry is
accepted with special exception to
the contrary, will be required to
enter camp and remain during the
entire period Of the drill. The
Washington troops will form no ex-
eeption to this order All commands
will be subject to camp guard duty,
daily dress parade, and to all other
rules promulgated by the Command
ant Of the camp, Gen. Anger
Tents, or barracks, and straw for
bed-sacks viii be furnished, but sub